The 2-Ingredient Pineapple Dessert That Disappears in Minutes

Sometimes the best desserts are the ones that barely feel like a recipe.

No complicated measuring. No mixer. No long ingredient list. Just two pantry staples, a bowl, and a baking dish.

This incredibly simple pineapple angel cake is one of those old-fashioned recipes that proves you don't need hours in the kitchen to make something everyone wants a second piece of.

All you need is a box of angel food cake mix and a can of crushed pineapple.

Mix them together, bake until golden, and you end up with a light, fluffy dessert with juicy pieces of pineapple throughout.

It is sweet, soft, slightly tropical, and dangerously easy to keep eating.

Why This Recipe Works So Well

Angel food cake mix normally needs liquid to turn into its signature airy batter.

In this recipe, the juice from the canned pineapple does the job.

As soon as the pineapple and cake mix are combined, the batter begins to foam and expand.

The pineapple adds both moisture and sweetness, while the cake mix gives the dessert its light, almost cloud-like texture.

After baking, the top becomes golden and slightly crisp while the inside stays soft and tender.

The result falls somewhere between a cake, a fluffy pudding, and a dessert bar.

And because everything happens in one bowl, cleanup is almost nonexistent.

2-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Cake

Ingredients

• 1 box angel food cake mix, about 15–16 ounces
• 1 can crushed pineapple in juice, about 20 ounces — do not drain

You may also use a small amount of nonstick cooking spray or neutral oil for the baking dish.

How to Make It

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Lightly grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish.

A glass baking dish works especially well because you can easily see when the edges have turned golden.

Step 2: Combine the two ingredients

Pour the dry angel food cake mix into a large mixing bowl.

Do not prepare the cake according to the instructions on the package.

You only want the dry mix.

Add the entire can of crushed pineapple, including all of the juice.

Step 3: Stir gently

Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix everything together.

As you stir, you will notice the batter becoming light, airy, and slightly foamy.

That is exactly what should happen.

Continue mixing just until there are no obvious pockets of dry cake mix.

Step 4: Transfer to the baking dish

Pour the batter into the prepared dish and spread it into an even layer.

There is no need to make it perfectly smooth.

The cake will rise and settle as it bakes.

Step 5: Bake

Place the dish on the center rack of the oven.

Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center appears set.

A toothpick inserted near the center should come out mostly clean.

A few moist crumbs are perfectly fine.

Step 6: Let it cool

Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 20 to 30 minutes.

This step is important.

Straight from the oven, the center will still be very soft. Giving it a little time to rest makes the dessert much easier to slice.

Then cut it into squares and serve.